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Artwork : ArchiveNo00102

Crocodile Tooth 1950

Artefact

Contributor

ContributionForm
Contributor Name	Greg Nugent
Contributor Image	No_00102_Greg_Nugent.jpg
Profession
Location	Southsea
Collection Date	13.03.08 10.25am
Artefact Name	Crocodile Tooth
Artefact Description	Crocodile’s tooth in patterned cardboard box. ‘Property of Gregory Nugent’ written on piece of paper inside the box by his mother. Loose piece of yellow cellotape in the box. The box may be a jewellery box lid.
Artefact Date	1950
Artefact Stored	In a drawer in the living room
Artefact Form
Artefact Image	croc_tooth_00102.jpg
Sample Taken	Tooth chip, bit of cellotape
Sample Image
History of Artefact	“I loved going to the zoo when I was a boy. We had membership to Dublin Zoo. I particularly liked the reptile house. I would always go in and make my way over to the crocodile. I would stare at it and feel sad for it. Mr Smart, the zookeeper, was in charge of the reptile house. One day I went in and he had kept a crocodile’s tooth for me! I was seven (1973). My mum labelled the tooth which is typical of her character.”
Historian	Catherine Smith
Previous Owners	The crocodile!
Special Memories	“The crocodile’s tooth was my prize possession as a little boy. It was given to me again recently by my mum and seeing it triggered the old memories. My daughter is fascinated by it and took it into school. I still associate the tooth with feeling sad for the crocodile in captivity.”
Artwork Image	00102_WEB.jpg

Comments

Dear Gregory,

I lost that tooth in the summer of 1948 after a nasty accident involving a zookeeper, a can of lilt and an escaped marmoset. I have been unable to chew on the left-hand side of my mouth for over 60 years and, despite several lacklustre veterinarian attempts at dentures, I would appreciate it if you could return the tooth to me in my Autumn years at Dublin zoo. I think you will agree with me, that nothing is more important than a full set of gnashers.

Thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher the Crocodile

-- Christoper Crocodile - 22 May 2009

Thank you very much Christopher for getting in touch and sharing your memories, I am so sorry you have missed your tooth so much and lost it in such a traumatic manner. From my investigation of Gregory Nugent, I can assure you, he has preciously looked after and preserved your tooth for all those years. I feel he will be unwilling to let go of the tooth since it is such a treasured item and always reminds him of the good times with you!

My sympathy is with you for if I recall my limited knowledge of crocodile teeth, the adult crocodile's jaw has pointed teeth which interlock and are suitable for grabbing, holding and tearing prey, rather than cutting or chewing. They have good teeth replacement as reserve teeth are continually growing and push out the older worn tooth. Food is crushed and torn into large chunks and then swallowed! I am so sorry that your tooth did not get replaced and that you prefer to chew and not just grab and rip! You must have a very placid nature. Also without the normal crocodile ability to replace your teeth, how many do you have you left?

I hope you can find a good dentist.

Kind Regards

-- Seran Kubisa - 24 May 2009

Attachments

Topic attachments
I	Attachmentb	Action	Size
jpg	00102_WEB.jpg	manage	470.9 K
jpg	No_00102_Greg_Nugent.jpg	manage	54.9 K
jpg	croc_tooth_00102.jpg	manage	145.6 K

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